IN BRETT'S OWN WORDS:
I initially did the Ride in 1999 because, at the time, I thought I had only months to live. It was my sixth anniversary of being HIV. Medications were limited and toxic. My health was struggling greatly, so I wanted to challenge myself to fight for those living and aging with HIV/AIDS one last time, myself included. However, to my thankful surprise, I'm still here!

Since 1993, when the Ride began as the "California AIDS Ride," participants have raised more than $300+ million and completed more than 42,000 journeys on bikes from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

The stigma of HIV remains very prevalent, and many in the HIV community are still reluctant to talk about it. Those living and aging with HIV/AIDS struggle daily to maintain their health and get reasonably priced health services. New infections are still alarmingly present in communities all over the US. Those becoming HIV+ are constantly saying, "We didn't know, we didn't realize, we don't care, no one told us, we thought it was a manageable disease!.

We realize that the week out on AIDS/LifeCycle is the hardest we will work all year, but it is also the most emotional and fulfilling for me and the other Riders and Roadies.

(from 2021) My personal training story started in September after a ten-month recovery from a nasty bike crash. Thankfully, I'm now riding 100-200 miles weekly, but it can be grueling, a huge time-suck, and days filled with mental and physical challenges, but I do it with my Desert Roadrunners team of like-minded and selfless individuals. Team Desert Roadrunners represents our own 'desert love bubble.' I was raised on the idea that community and service are essential and can fulfill your wildest dreams and goals. The love that comes towards you as a Rider or Roadie, you get to give back tenfold to other people. It's incredibly emotionally filling.

The AIDS/LifeCycle advances the shared interests of the beneficiaries in reducing new HIV infections and improving the quality of life for people living and aging with HIV/AIDS. It raises crucial awareness about the ongoing epidemic, in addition to funding critical services such as HIV testing and screenings for other sexually transmitted infections, medical care, prevention services, housing, and more.

In addition to the 1.2 million people living with HIV and AIDS in the United States, 1 in 7 people do not know they live with the disease.

https://giving.aidslifecycle.org/participant/43387

Desert Sun: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/health/2022/06/03/palm-springs-resident-ride-545-miles-raise-funds-hiv-aids/7462292001/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2024

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Define, Unplug, and GET OUT! Ep677